CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Why did you leave early…”?
A. “Why did you leave early”? she asked me.
B. Why did you leave early? “she asked me.”
C. “Why did you leave early”, she asked me.
D. “Why did you leave early?” she asked me.
Correct Answer: D
The question mark belongs to the direct question and stays inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “He said The meeting begins…”?
A. He said “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m”.
B. He said; “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.”
C. He said, “The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.”
D. He said, The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m.
Correct Answer: C
The quoted complete sentence is enclosed in quotation marks and ends with its punctuation inside them.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “I disagree she said but…”?
A. “I disagree.” she said “but I will respect the decision.”
B. “I disagree,” she said, “but I will respect the decision.”
C. I disagree, “she said, but I will respect the decision.”
D. “I disagree”, she said, “but I will respect the decision”.
Correct Answer: B
A split quotation uses commas around the intervening reporting clause when the quoted sentence continues.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The notice stated Applications received…”?
A. The notice stated, Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.
B. The notice stated; “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.”
C. The notice stated “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted”.
D. The notice stated, “Applications received after Friday will not be accepted.”
Correct Answer: D
The direct wording of the notice is correctly enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Stop the guard shouted…”?
A. “Stop!” the guard shouted.
B. “Stop”, the guard shouted!
C. “Stop”! the guard shouted.
D. Stop! the guard shouted.
Correct Answer: A
The exclamation mark belongs inside the quotation because it punctuates the quoted word.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “She asked Have you submitted…”?
A. She asked; Have you submitted the application?
B. She asked, “Have you submitted the application?”
C. She asked, “Have you submitted the application”.
D. She asked “Have you submitted the application?”
Correct Answer: B
A quoted question ends with a question mark inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Please sit down the chairperson…”?
A. Please sit down, “the chairperson said.”
B. “Please sit down”. the chairperson said.
C. “Please sit down” the chairperson said.
D. “Please sit down,” the chairperson said.
Correct Answer: D
When a quotation is followed by a reporting clause, a comma is placed inside the closing quotation mark.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The witness replied I saw…”?
A. The witness replied “I saw the vehicle leave at noon”.
B. The witness replied: I saw the vehicle leave at noon.
C. The witness replied, “I saw the vehicle leave at noon.”
D. The witness replied; “I saw the vehicle leave at noon.”
Correct Answer: C
A direct quotation following a reporting verb is introduced with appropriate punctuation and enclosed in quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Where is the file the…”?
A. “Where is the file”? the officer asked.
B. Where is the file? the officer asked.
C. “Where is the file”, the officer asked.
D. “Where is the file?” the officer asked.
Correct Answer: D
The question mark is part of the quoted question and is placed inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The teacher said Read the…”?
A. The teacher said, Read the question carefully.
B. The teacher said; “Read the question carefully.”
C. The teacher said, “Read the question carefully.”
D. The teacher said “Read the question carefully”.
Correct Answer: C
A short direct quotation after a reporting clause is commonly introduced by a comma; the full stop belongs inside the quotation marks.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The file was complete consequently…”?
A. The file was complete consequently; the application was approved.
B. The file was complete: consequently the application was approved.
C. The file was complete; consequently, the application was approved.
D. The file was complete, consequently, the application was approved.
Correct Answer: C
A semicolon is appropriate before a conjunctive adverb such as 'consequently'.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The rule is simple no…”?
A. The rule is simple: no candidate may use a mobile phone.
B. The rule is simple; no candidate may use a mobile phone.
C. The rule is simple, no candidate may use a mobile phone.
D. The rule: is simple no candidate may use a mobile phone.
Correct Answer: A
A colon can introduce a statement that explains the preceding clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The first team surveyed the…”?
A. The first team surveyed the site: the second prepared the cost estimate.
B. The first team surveyed the site, the second prepared the cost estimate.
C. The first team surveyed the site the second prepared the cost estimate.
D. The first team surveyed the site; the second prepared the cost estimate.
Correct Answer: D
A semicolon may separate parallel independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “There was only one solution…”?
A. There was only one solution: postpone the launch.
B. There was: only one solution postpone the launch.
C. There was only one solution, postpone the launch.
D. There was only one solution; postpone the launch.
Correct Answer: A
A colon appropriately introduces the specific solution after a complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “I wanted to attend the…”?
A. I wanted to attend the seminar: I had already promised to help at home.
B. I wanted to attend the seminar, I had already promised to help at home.
C. I wanted to attend the seminar; I had already promised to help at home.
D. I wanted to attend the seminar I had already promised to help at home.
Correct Answer: C
A semicolon can separate independent clauses that are closely related.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The plan has two advantages…”?
A. The plan: has two advantages it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
B. The plan has two advantages, it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
C. The plan has two advantages; it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
D. The plan has two advantages: it is inexpensive and easy to implement.
Correct Answer: D
A colon can introduce an explanation or enumeration after a complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The deadline had passed moreover…”?
A. The deadline had passed: moreover several documents were still missing.
B. The deadline had passed; moreover, several documents were still missing.
C. The deadline had passed, moreover, several documents were still missing.
D. The deadline had passed moreover; several documents were still missing.
Correct Answer: B
A semicolon precedes a conjunctive adverb linking independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The forecast was alarming however…”?
A. The forecast was alarming: however the evacuation remained orderly.
B. The forecast was alarming; however, the evacuation remained orderly.
C. The forecast was alarming however; the evacuation remained orderly.
D. The forecast was alarming, however, the evacuation remained orderly.
Correct Answer: B
Use a semicolon before 'however' when it joins two independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “He faced a difficult choice…”?
A. He faced a difficult choice; resign or accept the transfer.
B. He faced a difficult choice, resign or accept the transfer.
C. He faced: a difficult choice resign or accept the transfer.
D. He faced a difficult choice: resign or accept the transfer.
Correct Answer: D
A colon can introduce alternatives that explain a preceding complete clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The conclusion was clear the…”?
A. The conclusion: was clear the project required more funding.
B. The conclusion was clear: the project required more funding.
C. The conclusion was clear, the project required more funding.
D. The conclusion was clear; the project required more funding.
Correct Answer: B
A colon can introduce an explanation of the preceding complete clause.